A Woman Will Appear on the $10 Bill for First Time in Over 100 Years

Alexander Hamilton will share the face of the $10 bill with a woman starting in 2020.

The Treasury Department announced that they will feature a woman on the bill in the year that marks the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. This will be the first time a woman has appeared on the American currency in over a hundred years.

The woman to be featured has not yet been chosen. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told ABC News that the Department is launching a public campaign to help decide what woman will grace the bill. They are using the hashtag #TheNew10 and a new website to collect suggestions.

Although feedback from both the President and the public will be taken into account, the final decision comes from the Treasury Secretary. “It will be my decision,” Lew said. “Obviously, I share my views on a regular basis on a wide variety of issues with the president but it’s my decision.”

The last woman to appear on American paper currency was Martha Washington, who was featured on the Silver Dollar certificate that circulated between 1891 and 1896. The decision comes on the heels of the recent Women on 20s grassroots campaign, which pushes for a woman to be showcased on the $20 bill. New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen recently introduced legislation to try and begin the process.

“While it might not be the twenty dollar bill, make no mistake, this is a historic announcement and a big step forward,” Shaheen said in a statement Wednesday, according to ABC News. “Young girls across this country will soon be able to see an inspiring woman on the ten dollar bill who helped shape our country into what is today and know that they too can grow up and do something great for their country.”